Abstract: This disclosure is directed to an apparatus, system and method for retrieving a target material from a sample. An enrichment agent may be added to a vessel that contains the sample for positive selection, or, in other words, to select or aid in selecting the target material from amongst the remainder of the sample. The enrichment agent may be, for example, immunomagnetic beads, buoyant beads, high-density beads, chemicals to change the density of the target material, or the like.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are analytical aids having a surface coated at least partially with a hydrophilic coating, where the hydrophilic coating includes nanoparticles with silica structure and an average particle size in a range from about 1 nm to about 500 nm. Also disclosed are methods of producing the analytical aids, as well as using the analytical aids in, for example, a sampling device containing the at least partially coated analytical aid.

Abstract: A cell study device, comprising, a base layer, a planar conduit defining layer, including a conduit cut out of the layer; and a planar cover layer which defines a capillary flow channel in said conduit layer, said conduit layer and said cover layer acting as side walls for said capillary flow channel, wherein said layers are formed of materials that do not interfere with cell behavior over a period of at least 5 hours when loaded with aqueous solution.

Abstract: A hydrogel is dried by a critical point drying technique. The hydrogel may include indicator molecules embedded therein and may be part of a hydrogel-based device, such as, for example, an analyte sensor.

Abstract: According to one aspect, a system for sensing ethanol from human skin, that comprises at least one apparatus for sensing ethanol and a coupling matrix readout extraction unit for performing a method of extracting a coupling-matrix readout. The at least one sensing apparatus and the coupling matrix readout extraction may be mounted on a substrate. The substrate may be adapted such that it can be formed into a wearable accessory that can be worn by a human subject. When the wearable accessory is worn by the human subject such that the subject provides a skin tissue sample to the accessory, the presence or concentration of ethanol and other compounds may be determined from the vapor associated with the tissue sample.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to an apparatus, system and method for retrieving a target material from a suspension. A system includes a displacement fluid, a collector, and a primary vessel. In another implementation, the system includes a processing vessel, a displacement fluid, a collector, and a primary vessel.